The North Coast Section playoffs are a contrast between elation and disappointment, with the specter of a season-ending loss serving as a strong motivator for competing teams.
The Analy Tigers enjoyed the best of playoff softball in a 9-0 NCS opening win over Acalanes on May 14, while the El Molino Lions experienced the heartbreak of defeat in a 12-2 first-round loss to St. Patrick/St. Vincent.
At press time the No. 10-seeded Tigers (11-12-1) were preparing for a Monday, May 20 NCS Division 3 quarterfinal clash at No. 2 Moreau Catholic, with the winner advancing to face No. 3 Sonoma Valley in the semifinals on Wednesday, May 22 (location TBD).
Analy opened the NCS tournament in dominant fashion at No. 7-seeded Acalanes, setting the tone with a pair of runs in the first inning. The Tigers busted the game wide open in a four-run third inning, adding two in the fifth and one in the sixth en route to a 9-0 win.
Senior hurler Carson Rasmussen (7 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 6 Ks) logged her best outing of the season, while top hitters included Chloe Hadrich (3 for 5, run, RBI), Leah Lawrence (3 for 4, run, 2 RBIs), Rasmussen (2 for 2, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Samantha Caughie (2 for 4, run), Caitlin Caughie (1 for 3), Makayla Kraemer (1 for 5, 2 runs) and Olivia Franceschi (1 for 3, run).
Lions fall to Bruins     Â
The No. 12-seeded Lions traveled to No. 5 ranked St. Patrick/St. Vincent of Vallejo on May 14 in the NCS Division 4 opener, spotting the Bruins a combined 11 runs in the first three frames. El Mo pushed across solo runs in the second and fourth stanzas but fought an uphill battle all the way in an eventual 12-2 loss in five innings.
Freshman pitcher Katelynn Tourady (4.1 IP, 11 hits, 9 ERs, 7 Ks) wrapped up an outstanding season, while leading batters were Grace. St. Marie (1 for 1, run), Natalie Alberigi (1 for 3), Erika Olson (1 for 3), Bella Gaab (1 for 2), Erika Jimenez (1 for 1, RBI), Sheila Ruiz (1 for 1, RBI) and Tourady (1 for 3, run).
